Gas generating process



. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 24, 1,935., .1. E. TONE I GAS GENERATING PROCESS Filed NOV. l2, 1930 Dee.. 24, H35. J. E. TONE GAS GENERATING PROCESS Filed Nov. l2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

An object of my invention is to provide an economical and efficient process for producing an inert gas particularly CO2 by means of an apparatus such as the one disclosed in my copending patent application, Serial No. 370,759, filed June 14, 1929 (Patent 1,984,665, Dec. 18, 1934) and of which ap-plication the present one is a continuation in part.

More particularly, it is my object to provide a process in which charcoal or other fuel appriate for producing the desired gas is initially burned and the gas and smoke removed therefrom and disposed with, after which the partially burned charcoal, which is then in the form, of glowing coals, is secondarily burned and air is forced through the charcoal while being secondarily burned whereby to produce an inert gas.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in a process whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim and illustrated in the commpanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 ls a side elevation of a portion of an apparatus used in performing the process.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the same on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating the gas take-off portion of the apparatus.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of a portion of the operating mechanism of the apparatus.

Figure 5 is a sectional View on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, illustrating the reverse side of the mechanism shown in Figure 4 and Figure 6 is a diagrammatic View of an apparatus for producing the gas of the process.

In the packing of coffee in metal cans, the vacuum pack system has been extensively used. The vacuum pack system consists in lling the can with ground coffee and then removing the air therefrom by vacuum. It is well known that a perfect vacuum cannot be attained and therefore, a small quantity of air remains ln the coffee can. This air has a deteriorating effect on the quality and taste of the coffee, the amount of deterioration increasing with age.

I have attempted to eliminate such a contingency by substituting for the air removed from the can, an inert gas and a small amount of reducing gas such as carbonmonoxide. I have found that the introduction of an inert gas into the coffee will neither harm it nor deteriorate the flavor and quality of the coffee even though left in the can indefinitely.

One way of producing an inert gas is to burn charcoal and draw air through the burning charcoal whereby an inert gas results. However, a gas produced in this manner also draws the smoke from the charcoal and other gases of combustion and even though the smoke is very small in quantity, it has a tendency to affect the flavor of the coffee.

I have, therefore, endeavored to provide a prooess wherein the smoke and gases are first removed from the charcoal as it is being burned and thereafter the burning charcoal is introduced into a combustion chamber through which air is drawn and this air I flnd becomes an inert gas lacking the odorous and foreign taste imparting elements common to gas produced from charcoalv which is only burned once and the air passed directly through it while burning. I will now describe an apparatus which may be used for producing an inert gas by my improved process.

The apparatus is shown on the drawings, l0 indicating a secondary combustion chamber which is substantially cylindrical in cross section. Legs I2 are secured to the chamber I0 for supporting the same relative to a floor I4.

Sup-porting members I6 are secured to the top of the combustion chamber I0 and support on their upper ends, a combustion chamber I8. I will refer to the combustion chamber I 0 as a secondary combustion chamber and to the combustion chamber I8 as a primary combustion chamber.

A charcoal container 20 is supported on the upper end of the primary combustion chamber i8 and has positioned therein, a feed hopper 22. A removable lid 24 is provided for the hopper 22. The hopper 22 may be lled with charcoal as indicated at 29 which settles by gravity through a thimble 28 and spreads as indicated at. 30 over the bottom of the primary combustion chamber i8.

The co-mbustion chamber I8 is in the shape of an inverted cone and its bottom is formed by a plurality of rotatable grates 32, 34 and 36. The grates 32, 34 and 36 have their ends journaled in bearing members 38 and 40. The members 3S and 40 are secured as indicated at 42 to the supporting members i6. The shaft 44 of the grate 32 extends beyond the bearing member 38 .and through a bracket 46. Between the bracket 46 and the bearing member 38, a ratchet wheel 48 is provided.

An actuating arm 50 is secured to a sleeve 52 which surrounds the shaft i4 and extends through a bearing 54 formed on the bracket 46. Secured to the sleeve 52 between the bracket 46 and the ratchet wheel 48, is a hub 59 from which extends a pawl arm 58. A pawl 60 is mounted on the free end of the arm 58 and is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 48.

A gauge plate S2 is rotatably mounted on thek shaft 44 adjacent the ratchet wheel 48. A pawl engaging flange 64 is formed on the gauge plate 62, the purpose of which will hereinafter be referred to.

The gauge plate 62 may be adjusted 60 by rotation and for holding it at any of its adjusted positions, threaded studs 66 are provided thereon extending Vthrough slots 68 in the bracket 46. Clamp wing nuts 10 are provided on the studs 66.

A substantially cone-shaped defiector 12v is mounted between the primary combustion chamber |8 and the secondary combustion chamber I0. The defiector 12 is supported in position relative to the supporting members |6 by meansof rivets or the like 14.

The top of the combustion chamber |0 is formed by a plate 16 secured thereto and-on.

which an annular manifold 18 is formed. Within the manifold 13,V an annular passageway 80 is providediwhiohk communicates by means of openings 82.withv the interiorof the combustion chamber I0. The top of the manifold 18 is substantially cone-shaped and its top surface is in'alignment witha cone-shaped surface 84 formed on A a1removable thimble 86. The combustion cham- Y shaped rotatable grate.

The periphery of the-member 94 is corrugated as indicatedat|00 and the lowerrinner periphery of the combustion chamber 0 is corrugated as 1 indicated at |02. The grate supporting member S14-and the head 96 are'secured to a shaft |04. The shaft |04 is rotatably mounted in a'casing |06 providedwith supporting armsV 08. The arms |08 as indicated at |'I0 are secured'to the supporting legs |2 of the device. i Y

An adjustable thrust Vscrew I2 is mounted in the bottom of the casing |06 for the purpose of supporting the shaft V|04 and the parts secured thereto. Within the casingl |06 a bevel gear ||4 is secured to the shaft |04. A bevel pinion ||6 (best shown in Figure 1 of the drawings)V is mounted on a shaft I8V journaled in one side of the easing los and in mesh with the beve1 gear ||.4. The shaft ||8 extends through a bracket 46a supported on extensions |20 which are in turn secured to the supporting legs I2 of the de- Vice.

Vdescribedin connection with the grates 32, 34

and 36. I will therefore refer to similar parts for operating the shaft ||8 with similar reference 1 numerals Withrthe addition of the distinguishing Y es;

character a. Y Y Y Apboss |22 is formed on the manifold 18 into whichja pipeline |24 is screwed. Thejpipe line |24 extends to an intake pipe |26 formed on a Y separator |28.V VIt will be noted by referringjto |34 held in position -by'bolts |36A and wing nutsf |38, is mounted on the lower end of the cylindrical portion |32. Leg members |40 and braces |42 are provided for supporting the separator |28 relative to the floor 4. Within the separator |28 anannular baille wall |44 is provided extending 5 downwardly from the topzof [the separator and spaced from the outer wall thereof. Connected Ywith the top of the separator |28 and communieating with the portion of the separator inside of the bale wall |44, is an outlet pipe |46. 10

Referring to the diagrammatic View shown in Figure 6, the outlet pipe |46 communicates with a shut-off control valve |48. The control valve |48 is connected with a 'condenser |50 which Y ls merely a plurality of tubes cooled by atmos- 15 phere and may, in practical construction,A bea steam or hot waterradiator.

A'pipe line |52 leadsfrom the condenser |50 to the air chamber |54 ofza compressor |56. The Valve box of the compressor |56 is indicated at V20 |58 andrfromthe valve box, a pipe line |60 extends. The pipeline. |60may discharge into a storage tank wherein the gas may be .storedfor immediate or future use as desired. Suitable automatic controlling devices may be utilizedfor 25 regulating the pressure of the gas introduced into f the storage tank.

Practical operation In'l the Vpractical operation of the apparatus 30 herein disclosed, the lid 24 is removed and the hopper 22 filled with charcoal as indicated in dotted lines at 26 in Figure 2 'of the drawings. The charcoal feeds downwardly by gravity assuming approximately the position with respect to the 35 primary combustion chamber |8 indicated at 30 and resting on the grates 32,34 and Y36. The charcoal resting on the 'grates is ignited by meansof a blow torch or a gas torch which might be operated bythe city gas and permanently attachedto the machine.

After being ignited, the charcoal burns on the grates 32, 34 and 36 and Whatever littlesmoke therefis arising from the burning charcoal and someY of the gas therefrom, lpass upwardly in the 45 container 20 and are discharged to atmosphere through a chimney |62. The burning of the Vcharcoal on the grates may be controlled by means of a damper |64-mounted inthe chimney |62. Preferably the chimney |62 extendsto the 50 intake side of an exhaust fan or blower 2|2, and from the top side thereof to a chimney or smoke stack. The blower 2|2 is-operated by an electric motor 2.|.4 or may be `driven from the-compressor |21 if desired. A sliding check door may be provided in the chimney |62 so that cool air can j be admitted to the gas being drawn by the blower from the casing 20 if desired.

My generating machine may or may not include a shield 2|6 (see Figure 2) extending from the 60 chamber I8 to the flange 16 of the manifold 80. The shield 2|6 may be provided for the purpose of preventing Vthe escape of gas into the atmosphere of the room in which the apparatus is located, such gas arisingfrom the charcoal burn- 65 ingabove thethimble 86. The shield when usedV Vis open on one vside as shown in Figure 3.v Thus,

whether the shield is used or not, air is supplied freely above the thimble and below the grates of the primary combustion chamber. The interior Vof the Vshield 2|6 is preferably connected by means of a pipe 220 withl the chimneyV |62. A damper 2|8 andslide check door 222 are provided for. controllingthe draft of air throughthe pipe 220.-V It will Abe noted that thepipe220 being [5:

connected with the chimney I 62 (see the diagrammatic view, Figure 6) whereby the blower 2| 2 serves for drawing gas from both the interior of the hopper casing 20 and the shield 2|6.

The grate 32 is slowly rotated by oscillating the arm 50. For oscillating the arm 50, I provide an actuating device A including a casing |66 having a shaft |68 journaled therein.

A crank arm I is secured to the shaft |68 and through the medium of a link |12, oscillates the arm 50. Oscillation of the arm 50 causes the arm 58 to oscillate and thereby rotate the ratchet wheel 48 intermittently through the medium of the pawl 60. During each oscillation of the arm 58, the pawl 60 may rotate the ratchet wheel 48 any desired number of teeth therein by adjusting the gaugeplate 62.

Referring to Figure 5 for instance, adjustment of the plate 62 in the direction of the arrow |14 will cause the pawl 60 to disengage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 4.8 due to the undersurface thereof engaging the flange 60 sooner upon oscillation of the arm 56 in the direction of the arrow |16 and therefore, the next tooth engaged by the pawl 60 will not be moved as far in the direction opposite to the arrow |16 as when the plate 62 is adjusted in the direction opposite to the arrow |14.

For rotating the shaft I 68 and thereby rotating the grate 32, a pulley |18 is provided which may be belted by means of a belt |25 and pulley |21 to the shaft of the compressor |56 or run by an independent motor.

A pin |80 is provided on the shaft 44 of the grate 32 and pinions |82 are provided on the grates 34 which mesh with the pinion |80. A pinion |84 on the shaft of the grate 36, meshes with one of the pinions |82.

From the construction of the parts just described, it will be obvious that rotation from the grate 32 is imparted to the grates 34 and 36. Disc like end portions |86 are provided on the grates 32, 34 and 36 for forming substantial end members slightly spaced from the irregular shaped lower edges |88 of the primary combustion chamber I8.

As the grates 32, 34 and 36 are slowly rotated, the partially burned charcoal now in the form of glowing coals falls into the deector 12 and then through the thimble 86 and into the combustion chamber I0 where it piles up on the grate members 93 as indicated in dotted lines at |90 in Figure 2. rIhe partially burned charcoal also fills the thimble 86 and assumes the position indicated at |92 whereby the thimble 86 and the Space between the corrugated surfaces I 60 and |82, is substantially lled. As the partially burned charcoal is burned in the secondary combustion chamber l0, the grate members 98 are slowly rotated through the medium of the bevel gear ||4, the bevel pinion H6, the shaft ||8, the ratchet wheel 48a, the pawl 60a, the pawl arm 58a, the sleeve 52a and the arm 50a.

The arm 50a is operatively connected by a link |94 to a crank arm |96 mounted on a shaft |98. The shaft |98 is journaled in the housing |66 of the gearing mechanism A and is operatively connected with the rotating shaft |68 by means of a worm gear 200 and a worm 202. The mechanism A is mounted on a bracket 204 which may be secured to the wall or to the container if found desirable.

As a vacuum is produced in the condenser |50, atmospheric pressure will force air up through the spaces between the corrugated portions |00 and |02 in the bottom of the secondary combustion chamber I0 and down through the thimble 86 thereof. Such air in passing through the burning charcoal forms an inert gas free from oxygen 5 and smoke produced when burning the charcoal in the primary combustion chamber.

This inert gas is forced by the atmospheric pressure through the openings 82 in the cover plate 16 of the combustion chamber I0 and into 10 the manifold 18. It will be noted by referring to Figure 3, that the openings 82 vary in size whereby the pressure is equalized throughout the manifold 18 and there is a substantially even distribution of inert gas passing through the open- 15 ings 82 into the annular passageway 80.

From the passageway 80, the inert gas is discharged tangentially into the separator |28 whereby it is given a whirling motion before passing beneath the annular baffle wall |44 and into 20 the discharge pipe |46 from whence the gas travels through the condenser and cooler |50 to the compressor |56. The separator |28 receiving the gas in a whirling motion, causes any particles of charcoal ash which might have been collected thereby, to settle toward the outer surface of the separator due to centrifugal force. Then by gravity such particles drop into the cylindrical portion |32 from which they may be removed at intervals by removing the cover plate |34.

The condenser |50 is provided so that the gas will not leave the compressor |56 in a hot and expanded condition which would throw unnecessary work onto the compressor for having to compress an expanded gas. Therefore, by pro- 85 viding a condenser and cooler |50, va compressor |56 of small capacity can be used for extracting the inert gas from' the gas producing apparatus.

When cleaning out the combustion chambers I0 and I8, the grates 32, 34 and 36 and the grate 40 members 98 may be manually rotated by a, crank 206. The crank 206 is provided with slots 208 adapted to engage pins 2|0 extending through the shafts 44 and H8.

By operatively connecting the gear box A with the compressor |56, the speed of rotation of the grates of the combustion chambers and consequently the burning rate of the charcoal can be regulated with respect to the capacity of the compressor. Automatic control means for the damper |64 might also be provided whereby the burning rate of the charcoal could be controlled depending on the consumption of the inert gas or other factors.

Changes may be made in the specific manner of performing my process without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention and it is therefore my intention to cover by my claim, such modied methods of performing the process i as may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

The process of producing an inert, non-oxidizing gas which comprises initially igniting and partially burning a mass of charcoal in a primary combustion chamber until smoke and gases are removed therefrom, transferring the burning charcoal to a secondary combustion chamber and While still hot forcing air through the glowing charcoal thereby forming an inert gas free from oxygen and smoke, drawing ofi such inert gas, separating the solid impurities from the gas and cooling and collecting said gas.

JAY E. TONEv 

